A Congressional Campaign in Disguise?

Brought to you by the fine folks who are apparently paying for it.

Ah, East Brunswick, the town where transparency is a foreign concept, and taxpayer dollars magically transform into campaign ads. Word on the street (or at least among those not on the mayor’s exclusive guest list) is that Mayor Brad Cohen is preparing to throw his hat into the congressional ring. And, wouldn’t you know it? Suddenly, the town has hired a marketing team. Strictly for municipal purposes, of course. Nothing to see here, folks.

Starring: Mayor Brad Cohen and… Mayor Brad Cohen!

The town recently put out a glossy, feel-good, made-for-TV video highlighting local programs like Buddy Ball, the Walk for Hunger, and a general sense of community unity. Except, here’s the kicker—none of these initiatives were the mayor’s doing. Yet, there he is, front and center, taking a victory lap.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think Mayor Cohen was the sole architect of every good thing that has ever happened in East Brunswick. But wait—where are the actual people responsible?

• Howie, one of the outstanding leaders of Buddy Ball? Not featured in the video.
• Cheryle Brass, who founded the Symphony? Missing.
• Anna Braun, a retired teacher and longtime music supporter? Absent.
• The EBEA, which sponsored the Symphony? Nowhere to be found.
• Other council members who were there? You’d think East Brunswick only has one elected official.

That’s right—an entire town’s worth of dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and supporters disappeared, only for Mayor Cohen to bask in the spotlight like a one-man Broadway show. (Working title: Brad Cohen: The Musical—A Taxpayer-Funded Production).

The Invite-Only ‘Public’ Announcement

Of course, when the time came to officially whisper about a congressional run, Cohen held a secret invite-only event. Nothing says “I represent the people” like making sure only the right people hear about it. And let’s not forget, the same folks he’s aligning himself with now are the very ones who, not too long ago, tried to drag this town through the mud. Funny how political amnesia works, isn’t it?

Marketing or Campaigning—Who’s Footing the Bill?

Now, this new town’s marketing team—who, exactly, are they marketing? East Brunswick? The initiatives? The community? Or are we, the taxpayers, unknowingly funding the launch of Cohen for Congress?

Here’s a thought: If the mayor is so keen on marketing himself, maybe he should use his campaign funds instead of ours. Just an idea!

Where’s Everyone Else?

If this video was really about East Brunswick, shouldn’t it feature… you know, the actual people of East Brunswick? Instead, it seems like a soft-focus campaign reel for one man, while the town’s true contributors are left on the cutting room floor.

Because in East Brunswick, there’s only room for one star in the show. And spoiler alert—it’s not you.